Tonight, the Isles are in Tampa Bay to face the Lightning. Tampa is battling for home ice positioning in the playoffs and are in a desperate race for points. Your New York Islanders are riding a two game winning streak and are looking to play spoiler once again. John Persson has been recalled from BPT for Kyle Okposo (lower body injury), he will wear #56. With Persson in the line up, that makes 10 rookies dressed for Islanders tonight. Cal Clutterbuck will be wearing K.O.'s "A" tonight.
Forwards: Lee-Nielsen-Bailey; Martin-Strome-McDonald; Sundstrom-Nelson-Clutterbuck; Halmo-Cizikas-Persson.
D-Pairings: de Haan-Hamonic; Donovan-Carkner; Hickey-Czuczman.
Evgeni Nabokov is in net with Anders Nilsson on the bench.
The Islanders came out strong and playing their fast paced, chippy style that has worked well for them in recent games. The defense has been very good since the start and guys like Lee and Strome are making Tampa take notice. After a 9-8 edge in first period shots, Tampa scores the first goal, early in the second to take a 1-0 lead. A minute later, Ryan Strome (Martin & Donovan) puts a wrist shot behind Bishop, score tied at 1-1. Later on, Bishop attempts a clear to the slot where Travis Hamonic grabs the puck and rips it into the open net. Officals declare that the play was off sides during a player change, no goal. It would only happen to us folks, only us. Anders Lee is denied on two aggressive rushes to the net, but wins puck behind the net, gives it to Nielsen, who puts it onto Matt Donovan's stick for a 2-1 Isles lead. Isles finish the second with a 12-9 advantage in shots for the period and 21-17 after two.
Isles get a 5 on 3 for 1:08 early at the start of the third period, but come up empty. Despite being outplayed, Tampa is holding on here. The Islanders need to make something happen. Matt Martin to the bench awkwardly. Possibly a skate issue as he remains on th bench. Isles miss a few opportunities and Lightning tie the game at 2-2 near the 14:00 mark of the second. How will the young Isles respond? Nabokov comes up with a huge save at the halfway point of the period. Remember that save. Isles are solid on the PK with aggressive pay in their own zone. Time expires in a tie. Tampa came back with a 10-4 period and a 27-25 edge in the game. Isles were 0/3 on PP and 2/2 on PK. Evgeni Nabokov was 25 for 27 with a .926Sv% during regulation.
Going into O.T., the Isles are good on the checking to start the period. Weak penalty called on Hamonic with 1:09 remaining. Lightning go 4 on 3, Nabby with some big saves and Hickey clears the zone. Evgeni Nabokov finishes going 29 for 31 with a .935Sv%. We are going to the shoot out.
Malone stopped by Nabokov!
Ryan Strome is stopped.
Kostka scores.
Frans Nielsen scores!
Palat scores.
Brock Nelson scores!
Callahan misses.
Josh Bailey is stopped.
Filppula is stopped.
Cal Clutterbuck is stopped.
Hedman is stopped.
Matt Martin is stopped.
Stamkos scores from a standstill. (Was that really legal?)
Colin McDonald scores!
Kucherov is stopped.
Anders Lee is stopped.
Purcell hits the post.
John Persson misses.
Johnson is stopped by Nabokov.
Thomas Hickey hits the post.
Carle scores.
Casey Cizikas scores!
Killorn misses.
Mike Halmo is stopped.
Salo scores.
Johan Sundstrom is stopped. Lightning gain the second point, win 3-2.
Your New York Islanders had a strong effort in tonight's loss. Howie Rose mentioned that a 13 round shootout was the longest in Islanders history. Despite a strong effort, the real story was another blown lead in the third period. But with 10 rookies in the line up against this team, there were a lot of positives to take out of the game. Evgeni Nabokov kept his team in the game. Ryan Strome, Anders Lee and Matt Donovan were solid. I am excited to think that these guys will get the most out of the final 9 games and it will make for an interesting camp this summer.
The young talent is here and getting better.
Sound Tigers Notes:
Per Michael Fornabaio, "AHL transactions have 6-6 G Philippe Trudeau signing an ATO with the Sound Tigers. Played 63 OHL games this year.
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